LIHU‘E — Considering that a normal step covers about 2 feet, the length of one step at Ke Ala Hele Makalae has cost taxpayers almost $2,000. And if county officials go ahead with current plans, the path will go over
LIHU‘E — Considering that a normal step covers about 2 feet, the length of one step at Ke Ala Hele Makalae has cost taxpayers almost $2,000. And if county officials go ahead with current plans, the path will go over the sand at the eroding Wailua Beach.
County Parks and Recreation Director Lenny Rapozo told the Kaua‘i County Council last week the administration has spent $34.29 million so far in “the path that goes by the coast.” The total length of already finished work is 6.8 miles. The entire path is projected to cover 23.8 miles from Anahola to Ahukini.
The money spent on the path so far amounts to $5.04 million per mile, or $955 per foot. Once the entire path is finished, the cost per mile would drop to $2.18 million, or $413 per foot, according to the county’s latest figures.
The majority of the money comes from federal funding; the county’s share of path has been $569,183 so far, according to Rapozo’s presentation Wednesday.
In January, Rapozo did a similar presentation, and told the council the administration spent $30.18 million. Since then, no additional phases of the path have been completed, but the county has already started building a spur at Kawaihau Road, north of Kapa‘a, and moving forward with construction at Papaloa Road in Wailua.
A year ago, the county’s estimate for the entire project was $59.74 million. In January, the estimate for the entire project dropped to $53.25 million. The county’s latest estimate, released Wednesday, show the entire path to be completed at $51.96 million, with the county’s “in kind” contribution at $11.37 million.
Rapozo said some of the older signage is rusting, and the administration is in the process of figuring out different materials that would withstand the elements longer.
As far as Wailua Beach, Rapozo said the current plan is using the county’s right of way, which would be on the beach.
“We still have enough (beach),” said Rapozo, responding to concerns of the disappearing beach at Wailua. Most of the sand was washed away recently, and apparently found a resting place under the bridge.
Rapozo said the administration has looked at programs that track beach erosion, and what is happening at Wailua Beach right now is no different than what happened in 1975.
“Eventually, hopefully, the changing weather, more southern storms and more southern swells, will bring the sand from the river back,” he said.
Planning work for the section from Anahola to Kuna Bay, or Donkey Beach, continues to be postponed, according to Rapozo.
